Bills carried over to the following session are given a formal first and second reading without any debate in the new session before proceedings on the bill resume.Motions establishing the select committee on the Bill and containing various instructions to the Committee, and on carry-over of the Bill between sessions, were considered on 29 April 2014. The second reading of the Bill was agreed on 28 April 2014.

Report of the Independent Assessor on comments on the Environmental Statement

An Independent Assessor was appointed in December 2013 to produce a report summarising issues raised by comments on the Environmental Statement. The Independent Assessor was appointed under the Private Business Standing Orders of the House of Commons, by the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, a group of impartial parliamentary officials acting for both Houses of Parliament.

The report of the Independent Assessor was published on Wednesday 9 April 2014.

Additional Provision: Report of the Independent Assessor on comments on the Supplementary Environmental Information

The Independent Assessor has submitted a further report summarising the issues raised by comments on the Supplementary Environmental Information published with the Additional Provision on 9 September 2014.

The consultation on the HS2 Phase One environmental statement closed on 27 February 2014. Information on the consultation and the phase one environmental statement dcouments are available on the Government website.

Summary of the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill 2013-14 to 2014-15

On 25 November 2013 the Government published the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill. The Bill confers the powers required to construct phase 1 of the proposed HS2 scheme from London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street with intermediate stations in West London (Old Oak Common) and at Birmingham Airport. It provides for a connection to the existing rail link to the Channel Tunnel (HS1) but not to Heathrow Airport.

Key areas

authorisation of necessary works to construct and maintain phase 1 of the HS2 line (powers to carry out these works are conferred on a nominated undertaker (HS2 Ltd.))

power to acquire land (and limited rights in land) necessary for the works to be carried out

deeming of planning permission to be granted for the works

deregulation of works on HS2 (the disapplication of certain powers contained in other legislation)

railways matters, essentially the application of existing legislation to HS2 and the future regulatory regime for the line

facilitating works on conventional lines to integrate them with HS2.

This is a Hybrid Bill, meaning that it has elements of both a Public and a Private Bill. If the Bill is given a Second Reading, those directly and specially affected by the construction of the route will be able to petition a specially-convened Select Committee on the Bill. Comments are currently being accepted on the Environmental Statement deposited with the Bill; after Second Reading those affected will be able to petition.

Background information: Hybrid Bills

Further information on how hybrid bills are dealt with in Parliament is available on the Parliament website.